Quick Crochet Poncho Free Pattern: the Chunky Clamshell Lace Poncho

So at the risk of being made fun of, I am ALWAYS cold. I could wear leggings and long sleeves in 85 degree weather. (I may or may not be doing that today… What can I say? I’m an island girl.) And I’m still cold! So, I decided to make a quick crochet poncho pattern to share with you all!

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I love a quick project, so I decided to remix my Clamshell Lace pattern from my Waterfall Vest and Lace Corset Belt into a giant, cozy, textured ruana style poncho. One of these days, I’ll make a tutorial for the stitches used!

Guys, I don’t want to brag too much, but I think I nailed it! I’m so warm and cozy! The super soft boucle style yarn makes it feel like you’re wearing a cloud of lace. I got mine at Michael’s, and they have the yarn (Loops and Threads Country Loom) on sale right now! The open lace pattern allows it to breathe, so I wasn’t too hot, even while shooting these photos outdoors in 80 plus degree weather.

You can wear it like an open front cardigan if you like, and it looks great just as is, or belted to accentuate your waist. If you’re walking on the beach, you can wrap one of the sides around your neck and shoulders to keep it in place a bit better. I love that it’s so versatile! My kids even stole it on the car ride home from the beach to use as a blanket.

Gauge / Finished Size

4 Stitches x 3.5 Rows in 4” square (worked in DC)

Approximately 45” wide by 70” from front hem to back hem.

Notes

This is a one-size fits most pattern. It’s meant to be a super oversized and quick crochet poncho, but you can adjust the length by adding or subtracting multiples of 12, and the width by increasing or decreasing the number of repeats- just be aware this will affect your yardage needed!

Finish with more Solid Double Crochet Edging.

Solid Neck Edging

C-1: Dc up first panel. Place 3dc in both edges of the short rows. Dc back down the other panel. [90]

C-2: Ch 2, turn. Dc across. [90]

Break yarn and weave in ends.

Shawl Collar – optional but I recommend it!

Count 20 stitches up the inside of both front panels, and mark with a stitch marker (or scrap yarn).

S-1: Sc in 21st st, and next 9. Hdc 5. Dc 20. Hdc 5, sc 10.

S-2 and S-3: Ch 1, turn. Sc 10, Hdc 5, Dc 20, Hdc 5, sc 10.

Break yarn, and weave in all ends.

That’s it! You’re ready to drape yourself in luxuriously soft lace. Throw an end over your shoulder, or add your favorite belt to hold it in place, and you’re ready to rock it!

Thank you so much for supporting my blog! I have checked and double-checked this pattern, but I’m only human- please let me know if you have any questions or if I have missed anything at all so I can correct it for you all.

You are more than welcome to sell any finished items made from this pattern. Please use your own photos and credit Katie Clary as the designer. Links back to my blog post are greatly appreciated! Please feel free to share this pattern by directing others to this blog post or the Ravelry listing, NOT by distributing the pattern or photos as your own.

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Hi! It’s beautiful, but I’m getting really confused on the counts for the clamshell design. Have you had time to make a chart for it yet? I think I’m putting the stitches in the wrong places. 🙁 Thanks hon!

Hi Kathy! I’m sorry you’re having trouble with the Clamshell Lace Pattern! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to digitize my chart yet, but I can email you the hand drawn version if you think that’d be helpful! We’ll get you sorted out and crocheting this again really quick! Katie

I am also having some trouble with the counts. I’m stuck on row 5 – things just aren’t adding up. Either a charter or a close up where I can see the stitches on the wrap would be super helpful. It’s a beautiful wrap and I really want to finish it!

Hi, Donna! I’m so glad you like this pattern! If you’re looking for an ad-free printable copy, I sell them on Ravelry for a small fee that helps support my blog so I can keep publishing free patterns for you all. You can find that by clicking HERE.

I to could use some pictures or something as I don’t think my stitches are lining up right and it’s difficult to tell for sure with this type yarn. Also, does the chain 2 before you turn count as a double crochet or not? Thank you so much, I really want to make this!!

Hi Katie, I love this pattern, I am so lost when I came to row 5. I read the above comments, so I understand the chain 2 does not count as a stitch , but my stitch count is not working out at all. I really want to make this , but at this point I think I need to see a visual if you could email me something please. I would be happy to purchase the pattern on Ravelry but not if its the exact same as what i’m confused on with the free pattern. Help please and Thank you.

Thanks so much for commenting. I’ve gone ahead and emailed you the stitch chart I’ve drawn. The Ravelry PDF does NOT include it so far, but I’ll be updating it in the next month or so with a digital PDF, and I’ll update this post when I do.

Hi Katie, – I just found you and this pattern – it is exactly what I have been looking for. Could you please e-mail me the cart, unless it had been updated on Ravelry – if it has been updated just say so as I am happy to pay the small fee for your work. And thank yo so much that your site uses sans sarif fonts like Arial – so many things are done in Times New Roman (a HORRIBLE font for dyslexics). It makes it much easier to read.

Thank you so much for the sweet message! I truly appreciate it, and it’s made my day. Since you asked, I’ll place a button for you to purchase the pattern on Ravelry below, but your encouraging words are ample payment!

I’m happy to hear my blog design makes it easier for dyslexics to read! I’ll be sure to take note of that if I ever change up the look.

Hi, Kate! I go by Kate too! Everyone seems to get stuck on row 5, but I didn’t even make it that far. I was starting on row 3 and thinking “this seems big, I better measure”. I got 60” across!! Isn’t this the back hem? Your measurements say 45”. My swatch seems small if anything. Any idea what I’m doing wrong before I frog it all?

ok, I finally got my head turned around and realized this was worked shoulder to shoulder instead of back hem forward. And now…. I got to row five… Can I have that scan please? I ordered the ravelry copy hoping you’d included it in there, but no luck. My yarn is so soft. I wish you could feel it. I can’t wait to wear this shawl. Thanks for all the help.

You’re exactly right- we do count the chains each as a stitch when you’re skipping one. And the top of the cluster counts as one stitch.

Here’s how I visualized it- you want the “top shell” of 5dc in the same chain to look like it joins to the “bottom shell” dc5tog decrease. To do that, you don’t want to work into the top of the cluster, because it’ll look a bit more crooked. SO instead, you work into the chain on the side of it, where it looks like a point.

Hope that helps! I know this pattern is tricky at first, but trust your gut! You’ve got this!

Leave me a comment or email if you need any more help- and I hope to work up a chart, tutorial and video for this sometime soon to help.

As written, there are extra skipped spaces that do not land the 5 dc shells where they should be.

So I saw that a small charted section is up above but, at the end (is that part of the repeat or just the final one before the last 7dc? It’s not clear), it shows a dc5tog but the language of row 5 doesn’t include a dc5tog at all so I’m totally confused.

Should I follow the written or the chart? If the chart, is that dc5tog part of the repeat or not?

Help! I’ve finally gotten around to making this after drooling over it for so long but now I’m stuck at this row.